My first thought was that I was so hurt, so upset that I wanted to burst into tears there and then. My second thought was that I was very, very angry, and I wanted to follow them and give both Luke and Sasha a piece of my mind. And maybe my fist. My third thought was, fine. Fuck you, Luke Hemmings. I watched the last place I saw him for just one more second before turning back to everyone else. I tried my best to forget about him for the rest of the night, and I thought I did pretty well. I had a great time, and Jess, George and I finally left at around three in the morning. We'd already arranged a cab, thank god, because I was sure we wouldn't have made it home otherwise in the state we were in. We were all laughing uncontrollably in the back seat about pretty much nothing, and we barely remembered to actually pay the driver whose expression was a mixture of annoyance and amusement. We thanked him profusely, stating that he was our savior, before waving him off and attempting to stumble back to our rooms.

George ended up in our dorm, on the floor, and he passed out pretty immediately. Jess and I laughed at him for a good five minutes, practically tripping over his body as we went to and from the bathroom to take off our makeup and change into something more comfortable to sleep in. Jess collapsed on her bed and fell asleep pretty soon after. The sensible voice in me told me to down at least two glasses of water, and I listened to it, knowing I would thank myself in the morning. I lay down on my bed, face up, staring at the ceiling. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, but my brain was completely awake, thinking about anything and everything. Unfortunately, including Luke. I couldn't stop picturing him leaving the party with Sasha on his arm, and the grin on her face. Surely there was a logical explanation for it. Maybe they just left the actual party together but then went their separate ways.

Face it, Noelle. They probably went back to his apartment.

I groaned and turned over onto my side, trying to sleep again. But I really, really couldn't. And I knew I wasn't going to be able to. By this time, I'd sobered up. That was how long I'd been trying to sleep for.

My phone suddenly started buzzing on my bedside table and I quickly grabbed it, squinting at whoever was calling me.

My heart dropped. The name on the screen was 'sexy penguin'. I'd never changed it back from when Luke had saved his number in my phone, and I didn't plan to. For a moment I just stared at the screen before sighing to myself and answering.

"Luke?" I whispered hesitantly, glancing at Jess and George to make sure they were still asleep. I got up and crept out of the room to stand in the hall so I could speak a bit louder. "Luke? Are you there?"

"Snowflake." His voice was low and soft. "My snowflake."

I frowned to myself. "Are you drunk?"

"Very. I want to – see you. I miss you."

I bit my lip, feeling a pang in my heart. "Luke, where are you?"

"Um." He began to laugh. "I don't know. I think I'm outside your dorm."

My eyes widened. "You're what?"

"Yeah. I think I recognize it. I have a really good memory, you know." He chuckled again. "I miss you."

"You already said that." I was already making my way outside to Luke. Only thing was, I was wearing a camisole and little pajama shorts, but I wasn't thinking about that right now. I was worried about Luke and how he'd possibly got to the university. When I got outside, I immediately saw his tall frame pacing, or should I say wobbling, back and forth, looking unsure. I immediately went over to him, softly calling his name and hanging up the phone. He turned towards me, and even in the dim light, I could see a grin on his face. He was suddenly right in front of me, and I thought he was going to try and kiss me, but instead he pulled me into a hug. I stood still in surprise for a moment before slowly wrapping my arms around his waist, hugging him back. His nose brushed the top of my head and I felt his lips skim my forehead. I suddenly remembered Sasha and I quickly stepped back, folding my arms across my chest, very aware of the fact that I was braless and it was kind of cold out here.

"Where's your date?" I muttered, but Luke heard me.

"You're jealous," he murmured. "Sally wasn't my date."

"Oh really?" I challenged. "Because it's not like you left with her or anything."

"I didn't." He laughed. "You're silly."

"I'm–" I made a noise of frustration. "Can we at least go inside? It's fucking cold out here."

"You would be in that tiny outfit of yours." Luke stepped forward and hooked a finger in the waistband of my shorts, pulling me towards him. "I kind of don't have a lot of self control right now. I almost – just almost – prefer this to that red dress."

"We're going inside," I said in annoyance, gripping his arm and pulling him into the building.

I stopped just outside my dorm, knowing I couldn't take Luke in there and talk to him without waking the others up. I turned to him to find him sat on the floor, back against the wall, eyes closed. I sighed and sat opposite him, hugging my knees to my chest.

"Why are you here, Luke?"

"I missed you," he said for what had to be the third time. "You looked so beautiful tonight. But you were with that fucking bartender."

"Yeah, because you were with Sasha," I snapped, then lowered my voice. "Don't be a hypocrite, Luke."

He smiled slightly. "I like it when you say my name."

I forced myself to not smile. "I don't care. You left with Sasha."

"She was drunk. I got her a cab."

"The only one drunk here is you," I said aggressively. "Should have got you a cab. Then you wouldn't be here at my dorm."

Blue eyes opened to look at me. "You don't want me here?"

"I..." I faltered at his gaze. "I don't understand why you're here. You didn't even try to talk to me tonight. Not once."

Luke shrugged slightly. "You looked like you were having fun. You hate me right now. Didn't want to ruin it."

Oh god. "Luke, I don't... I don't hate you. I couldn't."

"You should," he muttered, his eyes closing again. "You're too good for me."

When he said things like that, I just wanted to kiss him and never let him go. Instead I just stared at him, feeling my resolve wavering. "What is it you want, exactly?"

"You," he said softly. He opened his eyes. "You're mine. I want you."

"You're drunk," I mumbled, looking away. "You don't know what you're saying."

"Drunk words are sober thoughts, and all that." Luke reached forward and grabbed my hands, pulling me towards him so that I was straddling his lap. His hands skimmed my waist, and he rested his forehead against mine. "Michael... likes you."

"Michael's not the problem, Luke," I murmured, thinking that I should not be in this position right now.

"You talked to Nathan."

"I did," I confirmed, not quite sure what Luke was doing. It was like he was listing the reasons we shouldn't be together. "Good thing, too. Someone else sent me the flowers."

Luke looked confused. "What?"

"Nothing," I mumbled. I couldn't tell Luke about the whole note and tulips thing right now, not while he was in this state. "So, what. Michael likes me, Nathan exists, anything else you want to add to the list of reasons you're mad at me?"

"Not mad." Luke's hand came up and he lightly grazed my cheek, running a thumb along by bottom lip. "Jealous."

"No shit," I said dryly.

"Jealous because you're mine. Want you. To myself." Blue eyes flickered up to mine.

I bit my lip. "You need to drink some water. Stay here." I slowly got up and slipped into my dorm, grabbing a bottle of water and giving it to Luke. I sat opposite him again, keeping my distance. Being that close to Luke fucked with my brain.

"Why were you with Sasha?" I asked carefully as he took a swig of the water.

"She told me she would help me forget. About you."

"By sleeping with her?" I said flatly but Luke just shook her head.

"Would never. I think I drank too much."

I let out a laugh. "Yeah, I think so too."

"I saw you with Michael. Then I saw you run off. Ditched Sasha. Then she got all drunk and you were in the pool and your red dress was wet and hot and you were on Ashton's shoulders and I just couldn't, like do it. That dress... the amount of men staring at you... I wanted to, like, punch them. All of them. The dress killed me."

I merely watched him after his rambling. "Are you done?"

"No. Yes. I don't know." Luke rubbed his face. "Everything's sorta spinning."

"Drink some more water," I muttered. He obliged before leaning his head back against the wall. He looked like he was about to fall asleep then and there. "How did you even get here?"

"Walked."

I raised an eyebrow. "Eight miles?"

"Oh." Luke looked confused. "No. Cab. But I wandered round for a bit."

"And what am I supposed to do with you now?" I said, sighing. "You can't exactly go back to your apartment." He didn't reply. "Guess you'll have to stay here. Hope you like sleeping on the floor."

"Floor's great."

I shook my head at him and just as I was about to get up, he spoke again.

"You still mad at me?"

I looked over at Luke. He was watching me. "I... I don't know. I'll see how I feel in the morning."

"It is morning."

I held back a smile. "I'm gonna need to sleep on it."

"You should be with me," Luke said quietly. "Like, as my girlfriend."

My heart began to beat faster. "You don't know what you're saying, Luke. You're drunk."

"Completely," he agreed. "Utterly pissed. But I mean it."

I examined him. I wasn't going to be taking anything he said seriously while he was in this state. He might not even remember asking me that tomorrow morning. "I think it's time for you to sleep."

"Yeah." Luke yawned. "I'm tired." He slowly got up, stumbling forward and almost falling over as he did so. "Shit. Wait, did you just fall over? Are you okay?"

I couldn't help it. I started to laugh. "I'm fine, Luke. Now are you going to shut up? We can't wake Jess and George."

"I'll be as quiet as a... rat. No, mouse." He grinned at me and I rolled my eyes. I gradually opened the door, making sure Jess and George were still asleep, before stepping inside and closing the door after Luke. I glanced doubtfully at the floor. Our dorm wasn't exactly big, so George was most likely going to wake up in the morning right next to Luke. He would probably have a heart attack. I smirked at the thought.

I turned to Luke, whispering, "Make yourself comfortable. And don't step on George."

Luke looked down at the floor doubtfully. I ignored him and slipped under the covers of my bed, just wanting to sleep now. I probably wouldn't be able to even more, knowing Luke was right there. I watched him as he just stood there, not lying down, but just observing the floor and looking like he was having an existential crisis. I let out a whispered chuckle and gave in, knowing he didn't want to sleep on the floor.

"Fine, Luke. You can–" Before I even finished my sentence, Luke was squishing up in my bed with me, forcing me to move right to the far side up against the wall. "You didn't even know what I was going to say."

"Sshh." He moved closer, his nose brushing the top of my head. I froze, my heart rate increasing even more. "Your bed is small."

"No shit, it's a single," I whispered. "That's why I suggested–"

"Sshh," he said again. "Also, relax." He draped his arm over my waist, pulling me closer. "This is like hugging a statue."

"You shouldn't be hugging me at all," I said softly.

"Why?"

"Because." I shifted slightly. "Because, we're in a fight."

"Mm. I hate fights." His hand moved away from my waist and up to my face, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Me too," I murmured.

"So let's not be in one. Simple."

Because I was so relaxed right now, being next to Luke again, our legs tangled together and his lips so close to mine, that I just said, "Okay."

A smile crept onto his face, and he lightly began to trace a finger over all my features. "You're pretty."

I laughed quietly. "Thanks."

"No." He bit his lip in thought. "More than pretty. Beautiful. And you're mine."

I exhaled slowly. He was right. I was his. I didn't want anyone else. I didn't want Nathan, Michael, or that bartender, I wanted Luke. Obviously I loved Michael, but only as a friend. And I hoped he knew that. "You should get some sleep." I turned over, facing away from Luke, closing my eyes. He kept his arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me even closer to him, resting his forehead against the top of my head. Just before I drifted off, I thought I heard him whisper something, but I couldn't quite hear what.

***

"Holy shit! I fucking knew it, Jess, you owe me ten dollars."

There was a groan. "They couldn't have just waited a week? One week! Now I'm poor."

I slowly opened my eyes, head pounding and a feeling of nausea in my stomach. I soon realized I was laying half on top of someone, and that someone was slowly stirring. I looked up to see Jess and George standing over Luke and I, a triumphant grin on George's face and a disgruntled expression on Jess's. They both smiled when they saw we were awake.

"Morning," George said suggestively. "Thanks guys, you've caused me to earn ten dollars."

I frowned and rubbed my eyes. "What are you even talking about?" I glanced up at Luke, who had a hand to his forehead, clearly in pain.

"We had a bet," George said smugly. "On how long it would take for you two to get over your petty arguments and get back together." He looked pointedly at our bodies twisted together. "I won."